Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is more than just the occasional wondering about if you left the stove on, checking that the door is locked, and washing your hands for the second time. For people who suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder, each of these events turns into a ritual that can consume their lives. Obsessive-compulsive behavior drives the afflicted person to repeat simple actions repeatedly until he feels it’s right or done to satisfaction. Some might feel that if they don’t eat a certain number of peas in a specific order, there will be dire consequences. What those consequences are, the person is often at a loss to explain. Any attempt to break these habits becomes extremely distressful.

Actions are not the only symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder; the person can also suffer from obsessive-compulsive thoughts, like how you feel when there is a song stuck in your head you can’t get rid of—only worse. These thoughts could do serious harm to a child or loved one and can actually begin to take over a person’s life if left untreated. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a form of anxiety disorder that affects children and adults.

Recognizing the Signs of Obsessive Compulsive Behavior

Howard Hughes, the famous American millionaire, is probably the most prominent example of someone with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Hughes had a fear of germs that led him to constantly be on guard against contamination. He would constantly wash his hands and never touched another person directly. Close contact was strictly forbidden and many of his associates would say everything had to be handled with tissues.

A fear of germs is just one of the hallmark signs of obsessive-compulsive disorder. To many, this preoccupation with germs, doubts or a need for orderliness may seem eccentric, but to the sufferer of OCD, the issue is very real and they don’t know how to stop their behavior. The Mayo Clinic lists the following symptoms of OCD:

* Fear of contamination through shaking hands or touching objects like doorknobs and handles in public

* Constantly checking to see if the stove was left on or the doors unlocked

* Intense distress when items are out of order

* Images of inflicting damage on another person

* The impulse to shout out obscenities

* Avoiding situations where the person would be required to trigger an obsession, such as shaking hands

* Replaying disturbing images in the mind, like pornography or violence

* Skin lesions or dermatitis from constant washing or picking at the skin

* Hair pulling and loss of hair

What Is a Compulsion?

A compulsion is a series of repetitive behaviors an individual feels driven to perform to reduce anxiety. Sometimes to help avoid a trigger, a person suffering from obsessive-compulsive behavior might make up a set of rules to negate the trigger. Unfortunately, these rules often turn into a whole other set of compulsions. Most compulsions are broken down into six categories:

* Cleaning (washing hands, or cleaning the house)

* Counting

* Checking everything (the stove, the doors, or to make sure you didn’t run over someone at the last intersection)

* Needing constant reassurance

* Repeating actions

* Arranging items in a certain way

Causes of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

The causes of obsessive-compulsive disorder are still much a mystery, but researchers do have some theories. Biology tops the list, as some believe obsessive-compulsive disorder occurs when the chemicals in the body change. Others say the compulsions are brought about by the person's environment, such as a child learning from a parent who might have OCD.

Other theories point to deficiencies in serotonin or specific bacteria that infect children after a bout of strep throat. In the case of strep throat, the Mayo Clinic suggests that an antibody used to combat strep throat might mistakenly act as one of the enzymes in the brain. This antibody disrupts the communication between the neurons in the brain, resulting in obsessive-compulsive behavior.

Who Is At Risk?

At first, obsessive-compulsive disorder was thought to be a rare occurrence. Researchers are now finding that more people suffer from OCD than once believed. The National Institute of Mental Health figures there are 2.2 million people in America alone afflicted with OCD.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder isn’t limited to adults alone. Often, OCD strikes during adolescence or earlier, fully manifesting by the time the person is around 21 years old. While researchers haven’t concluded this is a genetic disorder, families can pass the disorder on. After all, if a child sees a parent doing certain things or is told to constantly wash her hands to avoid something terrible happening, the child will see this as normal and continues the obsessive-compulsive behavior.

Stress and pregnancy are also possibilities as causes of obsessive-compulsive disorder. A strong emotional reaction to an event could lead to obsessive-compulsive behavior in an attempt to relieve some of the anxiety involved.

Young mothers might find they are preoccupied with thoughts of harming their babies. With all the hormonal changes that happen during pregnancy, it’s possible that these changes could trigger obsessive compulsive behavior in the form of disturbing thoughts that just won’t go away.

Forms of Treatment

Obsessive-compulsive behavior is difficult to diagnose and even more difficult to treat. While there is no cure for obsessive-compulsive disorder, there are treatments meant to help the sufferer cope with the disorder and regain some quality of life. So far, cognitive behavior therapy has proven the most effective. This type of therapy is a way to train the mind to think differently by facing the fear and learning how to deal with it.

Some anti-depressants have been helpful as well. This goes back to the theory that raising the serotonin levels in the body helps to balance the deficiency of serotonin in the body of someone afflicted with obsessive-compulsive disorder. So far, medication is trial and error. A definitive cure-all has not yet been found and everyone reacts differently to the drugs used.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is not life threatening, but it has the potential to wreak havoc on an individual’s life as well as those around him. Obsessive-compulsive behavior cannot be prevented. The best anyone can do is watch for the signs and then seek help immediately. This means learning to recognize the signs and symptoms and not push these symptoms aside as a quirk or eccentricity of someone’s personality.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder can strike at any age and affect a wide range of people from all lifestyles. Even after treatment, the individual might not be completely cured and will need plenty of help and support. This person will have to adhere to her treatment plan and will need patience and understanding from those around her. Once diagnosed with OCD, it is important for these individuals to get back out and stop isolating themselves. Support groups for both the patient and the family can prove helpful in getting the sufferer from obsessive-compulsive behavior back into the world and functioning again.

Always Consult Your Physician FirstIt is helpful to prepare yourself with health information by reading and talking to friends, but always consult your doctor before taking medical action or changing your health routine. This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. LifeScript disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.

Do You Know The Dark Side Of Your Personality?We all know those people who have to be the center of attention. Or maybe you have that friend or family member who is always suffering from the newest ailment. Take this quiz and learn about personality disorders, but keep in mind that we all exhibit characteristics like these once in awhile. Could you fall into one of the three personality disorder categories?